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Barack Obama has told reporters "as far as I can tell, there was nothing new" in Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress in which the Israeli Prime Minister slammed the US-led nuclear talks with Iran.

Obama: 'Nothing thing new' from Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: PA

"The prime minister didn't offer any viable alternatives," the US President said, urging Congress to wait to evaluate a nuclear deal with Iran until an agreement is finalised. Obama said that he would only agree to a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

As one who values the U.S. – Israel relationship, and loves Israel, I was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech – saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.

Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated something we all agree upon: a nuclear armed Iran is unacceptable to both our countries. We have all said that a bad deal is worse than no deal, and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is the bedrock of our foreign policy and national security. As President Obama has said consistently, all options are on the table for preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.

Israel's Netanyahu has used his speech at the US Congress to attack the proposed nuclear deal with Iran - the deal engineered and led by the Obama administration and its allies, and still being carefully negotiated.

Netanyahu said the deal would guarantee Iran would eventually get nuclear weapons, and would not be forced to destroy any of its facilities.

"This is a bad deal, a very bad deal. We would be better off without it."

The head of a United Nations inquiry into the conflict in Gaza has announced his resignation after Israel accused him of bias.

UK-based academic William Schabas was appointed by the head of the UN Human Rights Council to lead an investigation into alleged war crimes committed during Israel's military operation in Gaza last year.

William Schabas was appointed to lead an investigation into alleged war crimes committed during Israel's military operation in Gaza last year Credit: Reuters

Israel had criticised his appointment, citing his record as a critic of the state and its leadership, and the Council had sought legal advice after it emerged he was paid $1,300 (£865) to provide a legal opinion for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) in 2012.

Reuters news agency reports that Schabas sent a letter to the commission stating he would step down immediately to prevent the issue from overshadowing the findings of the report, which is due to be released in March.

He also defended his work for the PLO.

My views on Israel and Palestine as well as on many other issues were well known and very public... This work in defence of human rights appears to have made me a huge target for malicious attacks.

I believe that it is difficult for the work to continue while a procedure is underway to consider hether the chair of the commission should be removed.